Coin slide



Feb. 8, 1949. \LKDMS ETAL 2,461,314

com SLIDE Filed Oct. 28, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 1" v Feb. 8, 1 949. V. K. DAVIS ETAL COIN SLIDE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 28, 1946 Filed Oct. 28, 1946 Feb. 8, 1949. v. K. DAVIS ETAL COIN SLIDE.

s sheets-sheet 3 Patented Feb. 8, 1949 ill T l TED ST AT-ES PA*I'Ell'l' OFFICE Vesta KlDavis and Emma 'T..,Da;yidsoh, Winona, Minn.

Application October 2s, 1946,;se1-i 1Natasha;

'1 'lgI fhis invention relates to improvements in vending ;ma chines and more particularly has to do with improved means for operating -.a device for clearing the selector mechanism of aslug,o1' hent o1;stieky coinsrheld theijein.

:Gpin selector mechanism '1 commonly employed includes a magnet for sorting out slugs of substantialiilionr qr isteel. 'Inthe use of such mechanism, ;it. often yhappens that slugs are held by the magnet. Bent ,-or sticky coins also often become ljodgedinthe selector mechanism; Provision-has heretofore been made for clearing the selector mechanism of'slugsloreoins'heldiztherein, a push rod operating elearendevice'b'eing'provided for t is purpose, ithe push trod -=:being .zflflnveniently locatedat the front of the vending machine -:-for operation by the mustomer. However, due to oversight on the p'artzof-the customeronlack of familiarity with the rihechani'sm, the .push 5 rod is seldom operatedhythe customer and consequently=the -selectormechanism oiten' beco'mes clogged, requiring =freq uent [servicing 1 by .a repairman, it beingi 'riecessarycto take the coin chute apart.

' 'The pr'imary bbject' of the puest-znt invention is to .provide iiniproved clearer device operating nieansof asimple 'effi'cient, reliable nature, which will operate the clearer device to clearzthe 'sele'ctor meehariism' every timei a coin is delivered thereto and :before another coin can "be inserted in the machine- 1 amm'i'n'g' of the selector mechanism" being athus i prevented.

i&riotherobject of the invention is to provide improved -c1 ar'e'r -tl'evicehperat-ing means of the character e referre'd to of simple, practical construotidh that can be readily "applied to well known tybes a'of coin selector :rnechanisr'n.

ibe invention-Q withbth'e'r Objects ahd advantages thereof and the pai tic iilar "construction, combinations and arrangements of parts comprising -tne san'ie, will "be ui'iderstoo'd from the donsideredih connection drawings, ffor ihin'g pa t iii-bod with'the accompanying thereof and ill-iistratin ime'n *f the invention.

v M evatiqnfof 'oin seletormechauipped with clearer device operating constructed in ac'cegea' ce with {t e pres- 'eiition, the neqprmnmg n receiver own in its outermost ,coi'n receivin Fig. 5 is'a'side elevationflwith partssmw gi s c on;

i 8 a mania/m w, t e e'ciii QQa i 1. receiver slide lb'in gjvsh'own in itsofitei'iriost oin receiving position; p

Fig. '7 ,is ;a vertical longitndi'nal .Sectioh,'tlie reciprocating coin eceiver slide .hei'r ig Ts'hown gait the end ofits forwardstrolie;

Fig. 8 is a v transverte itlttical lseotion taken foil the 1 ine 8 8lof Fi'g. 1. v H

While a pr red emb dimen o h hi nr tion is illustrated in the drawings, it -;tvi11 o f course be understood thatininorchanges and modifications may be made ,in the -particula-r Construction s n and e vin'vention ma be embodied in other forms-as :willappar to those skilledin the art and ;fal1in; g-withinthe scopeo f the appended-claims-without departing from the spirit of-;the invention. P

,In'the drawings, the inventi'onis shown-applied to coin'selector mechanism ofwell-k'nownconstruction and theseleotopmechanism will :therefore be referred to only in-axgeneral way. El e selector mechanism is shown mounted upon ;a

plate Iysuitably secure d ithin;the upperpart of the vending machine casing 2;; ,Hingedly com nested :to,-,;plate l is a plate-,4, lsaid plate being normally held in --a-close,d retnacted position, .1 as shown; in -Fi-g.- 1 fif' 'the, drawings; by a coiled spring 5. 'I-he plated-when in cl sed retracted position, is-spaced; from theplate -l ;a;nd is so formed as to provide therewith a -;vertical1y extending ehu-te section 4,, and near its lower edg e atthe in-nerside thereof -said plate is provided with an ;;e1ongated traokifi. -,Seoured t0the-plate His aiplate 6 having :a lower p'ortion .6 ,wspaoed :from the plate J a sufficient distance tos-provide-a passageway';-for-;a=- normal coim so -that? itcan ;:passlaterally from the ,-lower part of theavertically extending chute: 56(317101'134' a10ng the ttack 6 'iThisf tracki's' inclinedgdownwardly *from its forward end-tto 'its rear enjdaandserves ase'a track toi receive' incoming coins from th ef chute s'ection '4 Band to direct the samestowardea chute (hotshot/n) forreceivin a coin, which when aof p'roper: denomination and genuine, will at the proper pointi'in fits travel throughzthe mechanismbeina positiomtoio'perate :the "vending machine. In :the preserit Finstjance, the vending "machine :is designed to the operated-by ariiickel. Secured to plate "6 a magnet "1 .for sorting-'out-slug s-ofs'iibsta'liitialiron or ;:,steel I he seletor mechanism; also includes latchmembensfig-andr 9. The latch-finemtier fl is swing I portion 8a extending transversely of the chute section 4', said latch member being weighted to normally assume the position shown in Fig. 2 oi the drawings in the path of coins passing through said chute section. If the coin is a proper coin, it will by its weight force said latch member out of its path and pass to the track whereas if it is a slug of less weight than a nickel it will be stopped by said latch. The other latch member 9 is pivoted at l i to the plate I to swing vertically transversely of the chute section 4. It has a transversely extending finger portion 9a, said latch member being normally held by a spring 45 in the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings with its finger portion 9a extending across the chute section 4. The latch member 8 is provided with a forwardly extending portion at its lower end which engages the lower portion of the latch member'9 and moves the same outwardly to withdraw its finger piece 9a from across the chute section 4' when the latch member 8 is moved rearwardly out of operative position.

A blade I2 is pivoted to the inner face of the plate i at I3 for movement vertically between said plate and the hinged plate 4 to clear the selector mechanism of a slug or coin held between said plates. A coil spring hi fastened to the blade IZ at one end and at its other end to the plate 2 acts to yieldingly hold the blade in its uppermost retracted position as shown in Fig. 1, the blade engaging a suitable stop on the plate when the same is in this position. Pivotally mounted on plate 5 at [5 above the blade 12 is a lever I6 for actuating the clearer blade 43, the lever being yieldingly held by a spring 1'! in an elevated position with its free end portion engaging a stop portion on the plate 2 as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The lever l'6 has a transversely extending portion 16a, to engage the upperedge of the clearer blade l2, Said lever also has a cam portion Nib to engage a roller 40 on the hinged plate 4, and a cam portion [60 to engage the upper end portion of the latch 8. When the lever I6 is depressed, the cam por tion 16b and the cam portion lBcfirst engage the roller 4a and the upper portion of the latch 8 respectively to swing the hinged plate 4 outwardly and shift the latch 23. Upon a continued movement of said lever, the portion Isa on the lever'engages the clearer blade I 2, said blade being forced downwardly and caused to sweep through the space between the plates I and 6, thereby dislodging any coin that may be held therein, the dislodged coin being ejected from the machine through a discharge chute l 8.

Referring now to a detailed description of the particular embodiment of the present invention or member between the side wall portions 59. thereof is a chute section 23, the lower end of which extends adjacent the upper end of the chute section i of the selector mechanism in register therewith. Forwardly of the chute section 23, the supporting member has integral solid portions 45 and 2d, the portion 2 5 projecting forwardly of the front wall of the vending machine casing 2 as shown in Figs. 5 and '7 of the drawings. Extending upwardly from the supporting member at opposite sides of the forward part thereof within the opening 2a are tubular guide portions 29, and 3b is a tubular guide on the rear portion of the frame i9. Supported in said guides for reciprocatory longitudinal movement is a coin receiver it, the same being in the form of a bar provided with a coin slot 27 extending vertically through the same and having a handle portion 28 at its forward end. The upper faces of the solid portions 24 and of the supporting member, as shown in Figs. 5 and '7 of the drawings, extend level with each other and with the top edges of the chute section 23, said portions 23 and "i5 constituting supporting and guiding means for a coin in the slot of the coin receiver bar 25. On the coin receiver bar 25 are laterall projecting stop portions 3! adapted to cooperate with the guide 29 to limit the outward movement of the coin receiver bar. Extending upwardly from the top of the portion 2 2 at its forward end is a lug 32, the receiver bar 26 being provided with a longitudinally extending slot 33.t0 accommodate said lug. Interposed between the lower portion of the handle portion 28 of the illustrated in the drawings, the construction shown includes an elongated supporting member or frame having spaced parallel side wall portions 19, said supporting member being securely mounted to extend longitudinally through an opening at in the front wall of the casing ,2 of the vending machine within the same a slight distance above the top of the selector mechanism. said supporting frame being fastened by bolts 29 or the like to the front wall 2 of the casing, the bolts 20 engaging apertured attaching lugs 41 on' the supporting member or frame; The side wall portions E9 of the support ing member have downwardly depending lugs 2! at thei inner ends that fit against a laterally extending plate portion 22 on the marginal portion of the plate I. On the supporting frame coin receiver 26 and the lug 32 is a coiled expension spring 34, said spring acting to yieldingly maintain the coin receiver 26 in its outward coin receiving posit-ion as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. From the position shown in Fig. 1, the coin receiver is adapted to be forced inwardly against the tension of the coiledspring 315 to bring its coin slot 21 into register with the chute section 23 to deliver a coin to the chute section 4' of the selector mechanism, the coiled spring 34 acting to return the coin receiver to its outer position.

Supported for rotation in suitable bearings on the elongated supporting member or frame is at the rearthereof and rearwardly of the actuator lever 16 of the selector mechanism is a transversely extending shaft 31. One end of the shaft extends beyond one side wall portion is of the supporting frame is and has fixedly mounted thereon a star or cam wheel 36 provided with a plurality of cam portions 39 equally spaced about its periphery. The star or cam wheel 38, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. is

disposed in longitudinal alignment with the actuator lever 16 of the selector mechanism, the cam portions 39 on the star or cam wheel 38 being adapted to successively engage the free end portion of the actuator lever l6 and depress the same to actuate the clearer blade l2 upon abv a transverse pivot pin 43. The teeth 49a of the ratchet wheel 40 are hook shaped with curved outer faces 4021 and the pawl il'has' a hook shaped lower end portion Ma. 'A'spring 44 secured at one end to the coin receiver 25 miseries;

and havin its other end engaging' the'mawlfl l serves'toyieldingly maintain the pawl 'in'the pesition shown in Fig. 1 i of the drawings-against arstop t lwnn the coinreceiverto engage a-"tooth of? the "'ratch'et'"- wheel. the SSilII8l1LITIlbElOf teeth -as the nuinhermfcam portions 39 "on the star or "cam wheel 3S and the" relative 1 arrangement of the same is such thatwherr'the coirrreceiver'fl6'==is iorced'outward iy'by the spring 3d after e an "inward stroke of these-"mete "deliver a coin-to the chute Ze, "the pawl 4 l will engage one or the teeth-49a of the "atchet wheel tii, andwhe ratchet -wheel will he imrned-one tooth, the shaft ti -being turned to e'ii'ect a partialrevoluticnbf'the star cream wheeitil stifficient'so-thatone of its-cam portions 38*will engageand depress the lever l-5- to'-' a'ctuate theclearer blade l 2. Upon an inward' stroke of "the c'oin receiver -25, "the *outer curved *face of="the lower "end *Ma "oi the pawl M 'will ride over the 'outer"curved' face lwbof the adjacent tooth ofthe ratchetwheeh t'he pawl after-it is carrie'dout of --engageinent with the ratchet wheel being swung downwardly and forwardly backto normal position-by the spring 34.

By 1 the special "construction and arrangement (if-parts herein be'foreset "forth, clearer device operating means of" a simple, efficient nature is provided that insures the operation of the clearer device every time acoin is 'deliveredto the selecter' mechani'sm' and before another coin can be inserte'din theven'dingmachine so that jammirag of themechanism is --positively prevented. The"mechanism' is simple-and of compact construction that-can ne" readily applied to standard ty-pes "of selector mechanism.

What we claim is:

1. In a vending machine, the coriibination with a chute section, coin selector mechanism associated with said chute sectionadapted' to allow proper-coinsto-pass'through the chute section andtmarrest "slugs therein, 'a' movable *blade member for clearing said chute" section 'of a slug held *therein, and spring means acting "to normallymaintainsaidblade member in inoperativeposition, of *a'reciprocating coin receiver having a coin slot and adaptedtobemanually operated inwardly to' deliver a coin'to said chute section," spring means acting to "return 1 the coin receiver to normal coin' receiving position, and meanscoritrblldby=said coin receiver acting automatically to actuate said blade'mernber to clear said chute' sec'tionin the return outward movement ofthe 'coin receiver to normal coin receiving position after an inward stroke of the same.

2. In a vending machine, the combination with a chute section, coin selector mechanism associated with said chute section adapted to allow proper coins to pass through the chute section and to arrest slugs therein, a movable blade member for clearing said chute section of a slug held therein, and spring means acting to normally maintain said blade member in inoperative position, of a reciprocating coin receiver having a coin receiving slot and adapted to be manually operated inwardly to deliver a coin to said chute section, and spring means acting to return the coin receiver to normal coin receiving position, said coin receiver being operatively connected with said blade member to actuate the same to clear said chute section when forced outwardly by the spring to normal position after an inward stroke oi the same.

3, In a vending machine, the combination with The" ratchet wheel has a 'chutelsection, coin 'selector:mechanismtassoci ated said-chute -section adapted to eallow" proper 'coinsto pass through the chute ectionL.

an o ar-lest'sih'gs therei-n,= anda-blade memberfor clearing ssai'd chute section 1 of a :slug :-he1di therein, said blade member being -pivotally -supported at one end for vertical swinging move rn-ent,-'oi a reciprccatingcoin receiver having rea ccin siot and adapted-to be manually operated inwar-dly' to deliver a coin to said chute-section, and snring means acting to return -the coin "re-- ceiverto normal coin receiving position aftertan inward stroke "of the same, said coinv receiver being operativeiy -connected with said blade member to actuate' the same to clear "said chute section inthe return outward movement of the coin receiver tdnormal coin receiving position after 'an inward-stroke oithesame.

t. in a vendingmachine, the combination with a chute section, coin selector mechanismtasseciatedwith-said chute section adapted to-a1low proper coins to pass through the chute section and to arrest slugs'therein, a vertically movable: blade =rnernber for'clearing said chute section. ofa slug held therein, and spring means :acting to normally maintain said blade memberinJineativeposition, of a coin receiver supported for reciprocatory horizontal sliding movement above the chute section, said coin receiver "hava coinslot therein and adapted" to be manually operated inwardly to deliver acoin to said'chute V blade' memb'er -toactu'ate the same to clear the chute'section in the 'return movement of the'coin receiverto normal coin receiving position after an inward stroke of the same.

5. In a vending machine, the combination with a chute section'coin selector'mechanism 'asso'ciated -w ith said chute section adapted toallow proper coins to pass through the chute section and to arrest slugs therein, a vertically movable blade member for clearing'said chute' section of a slug"held'therein, and" spring means acting to normally' ma ntain"said blade member ininooerative position I of a coin receiver supportedfor reci oro-catory horizontal sliding movementabove the chute-section. said coin receiver having a coin slotthe'rein and adaptedio be 'rnanually operatedinwardly to "delivera c-Oin'to' saidchute section,acoilcd 'eX an -ion snring interposed between a part on said coin receiver and a stationary partmsaid spr ngacting to yi'eldinglv maintain the'coin receiver in an outward nosition to receive a coin, said coin receiver being operativelv connected with said blade member to actu ate the same to clear the chute section in the return movement of the coin receiver to coin .receiving position after an inward stroke of the same.

6. ma vending machine, the combinat on with a chute section. coin selector mechanism associated with said chute section adapted to allow proper coins to pass through the chute section and to arrest slugs therein. a device for clear ng the chute section of a slug held therein a bar snn nrted at one end for nivotal movement vertically. said bar being ooerativelv connected with the slug clearin device to actuate the same, and a s gnin acting to yieldingly maintain said bar in substantially a horizontal nosition, of means for depressing said bar to actuate the slug clearer device including a reciprocating coin receiver slide having a coin slot therein and adapted to be manually operated inwardly to deliver a coin to said chute section, a spring for returning the coin receiver slide to normal position, a rotary shaft extending transversely of said bar, a cam wheel on the shaft having a plurality of cam portions equally spaced about its periphery and adapted to engage a part on said bar and depress the same upon a partial revolution of the cam wheel, a ratchet wheel on said shaft, and a pawl on the coin receiver slide to engage and rotate the ratchet wheel one tooth to effect a partial revolution of said cam wheel to depress said bar in the return outward movement of the coin receiver to normal position.

7. In a vending machine, the combination with a chute section, coin selector mechanism associated with said chute section adapted to allow proper coins to pass through the chute section and to arrest slugs therein, a device for clearing the chute section of a slug held therein, a bar supported at one end for pivotal movement vertically, operatively connected with the slug clearer device to actuate the same, and a spring acting to yieldingly maintain said bar in substantially a. horizontal position, of means for depressing said bar to actuate the slug clearer device including a reciprocating coin receiver slide having a coin slot therein and adapted to be manually operated inwardly to deliver a coin to said chute section, a spring for returning the coin receiver slide to normal position, a rotary shaft extending transversely of said bar near the free end thereof, a cam wheel on the shaft having a plurality of cam portions equally spaced aboutits periphery and adapted to engage a part on said bar and depress the same upon a partial revolution of the cam wheel, a ratchet wheel on said shaft, and a pawl yieldingly supported on the coin receiver slide to engage and rotate the ratchet wheel one tooth to effect a partial revolution of the cam wheel to depress said bar in the return outward movement of the coin slide to normal position.

8. In a coin selector mechanism for vending machines, the combination with a chute section, means associated with said chute section adapted to allow proper coins to pass through the chute section and to arrest slugs therein, a device for clearing the chute section of a slug held therein,

- a bar supported at one end for pivotal movement vertically, operatively connected with the slug clearer device to actuate the same, of means for depressing said bar to actuate the slug clearer device including a coin receiver supported for reciprocatory horizontal sliding movement above the chute section, said coin receiver having a coin slot therein and adapted to be manually operated inwardly to deliver a coin to said chute section, a spring for returning the coin receiver to coin receiving position, a rotary shaft extending transversely of said bar, a cam wheel on the shaft having a plurality of cam portions about its periphery adapted to engage a part on said bar and depress the same upon a partial revolution of the cam wheel, a ratchet wheel on said shaft, and a pawl on the coin receiver slide to engage and rotate the ratchet wheel one tooth to effect a partial revolution of the cam wheel to depress said bar in the return outward movement of the coin receiver to normal position, said pawl being pivotally connected at one end to the coin receiver and extending downwardly therefrom, a stop on the coin receiver to limit the pivotal movement of the pawl forwardly and a spring on the coin receiver engaging the pawl and acting to yieldingly hold it against the stop in a position to engage the ratchet wheel.

9. In a vending machine, the combination with a chute section, coin selector mechanism associated with said chute section adapted to allow proper coins to pass through the chute section and to arrest slugs therein, a movable member for clearing said chute section of a slug held therein, of a reciprocating coin receiver having a coin slot and adapted to be manually operated inwardly to deliver a coin to said chute section, and means controlled by said coin receiver acting automatically to actuate said movable chute clearing member to clear said chute section in the return movement of the coin receiver to normal coin receiving position after an inward stroke of the same. I

10. In a vending machine, the combination with a chute section, coin selector mechanism associated with said chute section adapted to allow proper coins to pass through the chute section and to arrest slugs therein, means for clear: ing said chute section of a slug held therein, of a reciprocating coin receiver having a coin receiving slot and adapted to be manually operated inwardly to deliver a coin to said chute section, and means controlled by said coin receiver acting automatically to actuate said first mentioned chute clearing means to clear said chute section upon the return movement of the coin receiver to normal coin receiving position after an inward stroke of the same.

VESTA K. DAVIS. EMMA T. DAVIDSON. No references cited. 

